Prime Minister looking at reducing self-isolation period to five days

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he is looking at the possibility of reducing the self-isolation period from seven days to five amid pressure on the NHS in England, while the Scottish Government said it would not. be doing the same

It follows UK Government education secretary Nadhim Zahawi backing dropping England’s quarantine time after it was reduced from ten to seven days.

In Scotland, the Covid self-isolation requirement was cut from ten to seven days on Thursday, but health secretary Humza Yousaf ruled-out further “risky” reductions in Scotland.

Johnson said any further changes to the isolation period would be in accordance with scientific advice.

“What I would say to everyone is, Omicron is still out there and it’s incredibly contagious,” he told Sky news, “Everyone will know someone who has had it.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to give a coronavirus update on Tuesday.

It comes after hospitals admissions with Covid-19 in Scotland more than doubled between December 29 and Sunday, January 9 – from 679 to 1382.

Follow STV News on WhatsApp

Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country